35 mm camera film

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Wiktoria

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Wiktoria
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Hi everyone.
I'm planning to start an adventure with a 35 mm camera film. What equipment can you recommend to me? What advice do you know for beginners?
Thank you in advance.
 
Before suggesting any specific cameras, please tell us a little about your interest - do you have any experience with digital cameras? Do you just want to shoot film but not learn about all the settings etc on a more advanced camera, or is this part of a learning curve? Is it associated with a photography course? There are so many cameras to choose from - have you maybe inherited any equipment from a relative? How much do you want to spend - you can get good film cameras very cheaply on certain websites, but with a guaranrtee you would be better buying from a regular shop but maybe from their online pages.
Where are you based? This might affect the ability to give you advice as the majority of people on this site are in the UK.
 
Before you buy the camera consider the costs of shooting film. You are looking at between £7-£20 a roll of film plus the costs of developing from £5 to £20 depending on your requirements. You should mention if you are looking for auto focus cameras, manual focus cameras etc.
 
Wiktoria said:
Hi everyone.
I'm planning to start an adventure with a 35 mm camera film. What equipment can you recommend to me? What advice do you know for beginners?
Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...

I would start with something like the Canon EOS 1000fn. Easy to load film and autofocus, with a variety of shooting modes to keep you going, dependent on your level of skill. And the beauty of them is that they are cheap as chips. It will get you ready for that next step, should you decide to take it.
 
I would start with a cheap zoom compact like a Konica Z-Up 70 for less than £20 - easy to load, easy to shoot with and should give you a well exposed shot every time you press the button. Run a couple of films through it and see if you enjoy the experience.

If you decide this is something you want to go further with, an auto-focus SLR can be found for around £30 including a lens. These are also designed to give a well exposed shot everytime you press the button. Plain Nev has recommended a decent one above. Minolta's Dynax range are good too.

Things to understand about film: 1. Film is a set ISO for each roll. 2. Most colour films are made for shooting in natural light (daylight), so indoor shots with light from bulbs or flourescent tubes will have a strange colour cast unless you use flash. This doesn't affect black and white film, though correct exposure may be tricky.

Happy hunting.
 
lindsay said:
Before suggesting any specific cameras, please tell us a little about your interest - do you have any experience with digital cameras? Do you just want to shoot film but not learn about all the settings etc on a more advanced camera, or is this part of a learning curve? Is it associated with a photography course? There are so many cameras to choose from - have you maybe inherited any equipment from a relative? How much do you want to spend - you can get good film cameras very cheaply on certain websites, but with a guaranrtee you would be better buying from a regular shop but maybe from their online pages.
Where are you based? This might affect the ability to give you advice as the majority of people on this site are in the UK.
Click to expand...
I'm interested in landscapes and wildlife photography. The only film camera I worked on is Canon Prima AF-9s. I'm looking for something more professional. My maximum budget is £50.
 
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The Oldun said:
I would start with a cheap zoom compact like a Konica Z-Up 70 for less than £20 - easy to load, easy to shoot with and should give you a well exposed shot every time you press the button. Run a couple of films through it and see if you enjoy the experience.

If you decide this is something you want to go further with, an auto-focus SLR can be found for around £30 including a lens. These are also designed to give a well exposed shot everytime you press the button. Plain Nev has recommended a decent one above. Minolta's Dynax range are good too.

Things to understand about film: 1. Film is a set ISO for each roll. 2. Most colour films are made for shooting in natural light (daylight), so indoor shots with light from bulbs or flourescent tubes will have a strange colour cast unless you use flash. This doesn't affect black and white film, though correct exposure may be tricky.

Happy hunting.
Click to expand...
Thank you for lots of useful advice.
 
Wiktoria said:
I'm interested in landscapes and wildlife photography. The only film camera I worked on is Canon Prima AF-9s. I'm looking for something more professional. My maximum budget is £50.
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If you have used these cameras I would probably look at an Auto Focus SLR. For your budget you could find one with a shortish kit zoom which would be fine for landscapes and large wildlife (and just about everything else). While you are enjoying that experience you could save up for a longer zoom to get closer to the wildlife. Auto focus lenses from the 90s can be found quite cheap with patience. Never be afraid to ask for advice as it may save you money in the long run. The brands I would trust for AF SLR cameras are the traditional quality camera manufacturers such as Minolta, Canon, Nikon and Pentax. I have had great results with Minolta, Canon and Pentax, but I haven't tried a Nikon AF SLR.
 
The Oldun said:
If you have used these cameras I would probably look at an Auto Focus SLR. For your budget you could find one with a shortish kit zoom which would be fine for landscapes and large wildlife (and just about everything else). While you are enjoying that experience you could save up for a longer zoom to get closer to the wildlife. Auto focus lenses from the 90s can be found quite cheap with patience. Never be afraid to ask for advice as it may save you money in the long run. The brands I would trust for AF SLR cameras are the traditional quality camera manufacturers such as Minolta, Canon, Nikon and Pentax. I have had great results with Minolta, Canon and Pentax, but I haven't tried a Nikon AF SLR.
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Thank you very much for your help and recommended equipment. My search will certainly be easier.
Best regards.
 
Mintchocs said:
Before you buy the camera consider the costs of shooting film. You are looking at between £7-£20 a roll of film plus the costs of developing from £5 to £20 depending on your requirements. You should mention if you are looking for auto focus cameras, manual focus cameras etc.
Click to expand...
I'm interested in landscapes and wildlife photography. My maximum budget is £50. I am looking for auto focus cameras.
 
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If you want to do landscape and wildlife your £50 budget will be limiting... any late 80's or early 90's AF SLR e.g. Pentax SF7 or Z-10 will be in easy reach, coming with a 35-80 lens. The lens will be a good all-round general lens but not wide enough to capture vistas or long enough to capture birds in the distance. When I was young 35mm was considered wide, lenses with focal lengths of 24 or 28 were considered a bit of a luxury. Same, with longer focal lengths. But the used camera business will be awash with inexpensive wide angle lenses and telephotos if your budget could be stretched.

One word of advice, it's not just film prices that have gone up, batteries for these older cameras might be more difficult to obtain. Batteries such as the 2CR5 you could get by just popping into Jessops, Boots, Snappy Snaps or even Tesco are difficult to buy - they can still be bought on Amazon or Screwfix though. Something that works on AA batteries may be a better way to go,
 
excalibur2 said:
For a cheap, light, AF camera my choice would be the Canon EOS 300 esp the 300v (I have both), for an ordinary amateur there is not much it can't do with many settings on the dial to choose.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9couChwYzmc
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This, I bagged one for my step-daughter on ebay last year, boxed with kit zoom lens, etc in excellent condition for less than £50. I have bought several plastic fantastic Canon SL:Rs for myself and family members/friends, they are excellent value.

the 300 is a good choice but the 3000 (last of the entry level Canon SLRs can be had for the same money and is also excellent)
 
welshwizard645 said:
If you want to do landscape and wildlife your £50 budget will be limiting... any late 80's or early 90's AF SLR e.g. Pentax SF7 or Z-10 will be in easy reach, coming with a 35-80 lens. The lens will be a good all-round general lens but not wide enough to capture vistas or long enough to capture birds in the distance. When I was young 35mm was considered wide, lenses with focal lengths of 24 or 28 were considered a bit of a luxury. Same, with longer focal lengths. But the used camera business will be awash with inexpensive wide angle lenses and telephotos if your budget could be stretched.

One word of advice, it's not just film prices that have gone up, batteries for these older cameras might be more difficult to obtain. Batteries such as the 2CR5 you could get by just popping into Jessops, Boots, Snappy Snaps or even Tesco are difficult to buy - they can still be bought on Amazon or Screwfix though. Something that works on AA batteries may be a better way to go,
Click to expand...
Thank you for the answer, I will think about it.
 
welshwizard645 said:
If you want to do landscape and wildlife your £50 budget will be limiting... any late 80's or early 90's AF SLR e.g. Pentax SF7 or Z-10 will be in easy reach, coming with a 35-80 lens. The lens will be a good all-round general lens but not wide enough to capture vistas or long enough to capture birds in the distance. When I was young 35mm was considered wide, lenses with focal lengths of 24 or 28 were considered a bit of a luxury. Same, with longer focal lengths. But the used camera business will be awash with inexpensive wide angle lenses and telephotos if your budget could be stretched.

One word of advice, it's not just film prices that have gone up, batteries for these older cameras might be more difficult to obtain. Batteries such as the 2CR5 you could get by just popping into Jessops, Boots, Snappy Snaps or even Tesco are difficult to buy - they can still be bought on Amazon or Screwfix though. Something that works on AA batteries may be a better way to go,
Click to expand...
I get all my batteries from The Small Battery company at reasonable prices: https://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/
 
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